Yukon Agriculture: Yukon Agriculture

Jan 13: Meet Your Maker 2020

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 03:21:00 PM

Calling all food buyers and food producers! Registration is now open for our annual winter gathering. Jan 13, 5-7pm, Gold Rush Inn. Everyone is asked to register so that we have enough scrumptious samples made with local Yukon products. For general admissions or to book a table, go to www.eventbrite.ca and search for Meet Your Maker 2020. See you there!

NOV 20: Livestock Health and Welfare

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 04:19:00 PM

Yukon farmers are invited to attend a meeting about the current review of Yukon Animal Protection and Control Laws. Meeting will take place at the Best Western Town Hall, Whitehorse, doors open at 6.30pm and the meeting starts at 7pm. Part of the meeting's agenda is the formation of a standing committee to address the topic in more detail. This meeting is hosted by Government of Yukon's Animal Health Unit and Agriculture Branch.

NOV 13: Sheep & Goat Control Order Info Session

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:44:00 PM

Government of Yukon is presenting info about the control order on Wednesday, November 13th at the Gold Rush Inn, Town Hall. Doors open at 6.30pm and the session starts at 7pm. Funding applications must be submitted by December 31, 2019. Control order goes into effect January 1, 2020.

AGM & FALL EVENT - Friday, Nov 1st - Doors open @ 5pm

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:19:00 AM

Mark your calendars! YAA's Annual General Meeting will take place on Friday, November 1 at the GoldRush Inn in Whitehorse. The keynote speaker is from DO MORE AG, an organization that supports mental wellness in Canada's farm community. This event is organized in conjunction with the annual North of 60 Agriculture Conference and Banquet.

Yukon Farm Fair - Saturday, July 6th 10-3pm

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 04:08:00 PM

Join us for a summer celebration of Yukon farming and local food production. The event will showcase farm equipment, kids races and activities, a competitive horticultural exhibition (Bench Show), tractor pull, a food truck, and farming races. At the Yukon Agricultural Community Fairgrounds - west side of Mayo Rd north of Burma Rd. See you there!

Spring Workshop - APRIL 13th

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:55:36 PM

Our SPRING workshop will take place on April 13th at NorthLight Innovation on 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse. Planning is underway. Please check back with us in February. See you soon!

Meet Your Maker Yukon

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 11:15:00 AM

Mark your calendar for the 2019 Meet Your Maker event - Monday, January 14th, 5-7pm at Gold Rush Inn. This winter gathering is a chance for local food producers and buyers to network and explore potential business opportunities. Hosted by YAA and the Tourism Industry Association. Contact YAA if you would like to book a booth. See you there!

North of 60 Ag Conference (Nov 2-4) and YAA AGM

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:19:00 AM

Yukon's annual agriculture conference will take place from Nov 2-4 at Yukon College, Whitehorse Campus, Room AA2206. Agenda topics: Pigs, Permaculture and Yukon Hay. YAA's AGM will be held at 1pm on Sunday, Nov 4 @ Yukon College. The AGM will include a business development presentation about "Clarifying Our Brand" with a pen not a hot-iron. Please mark your calendars! See you there!

Buying Yukon Grown Food

Tue, 19 Jun 2018 11:49:00 AM

Here are some shopping tips for finding locally grown and raised products this summer. Fireweed Community Market is held at Shipyard's Park every Thursday from 2pm. Potluck Food Coop is selling local products via http://potluck.localfoodmarketplace.com/ Also, Wykes Independent, Riverside Grocery, Super A and Bigway are now selling Yukon grown food. Thank you to vendors and shoppers!

Farm Equipment Demo Day - June 16

Wed, 16 May 2018 03:42:00 PM

Yukon Young Farmers are hosting a barbecue and equipment demo day to help showcase farming equipment and businesses. 12-3pm. On YAA's land north of Whitehorse - the future site of the Yukon Agricultural Community Centre. Directions: Between Burma and Policeman's Point Road. West side of North Klondike Highway. Here is a map. All welcome!

YAA's 2018 Annual General Meeting

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 05:31:00 PM

YAA's 2018 AGM will take place at Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre in Whitehorse on Friday, May 11 at 7pm. Following the AGM, the Ag Branch team will report about their accomplishments as well as future plans. Also refreshments and cash bar. For more info about the meeting agenda, click on http://www.yukonag.ca/policies.cfm All are welcome!

Raising Chickens 101 - Sunday, April 22

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 06:45:00 PM

Yukon Young Farmers are hosting a spring event for emerging backyard farmers. Darrin Sinclair and Cain Vangel will cover practical details to consider when raising poultry, both layers and meat birds. In addition, veterinarians from the Animal Health Unit will talk about disease management and we will have information on hand about fencing. Join us for this day-long workshop from 10.30am-3.30pm at the Whitehorse Public Library. $30 Non-members. $10 YAA Members. Please call the YAA office to register - 668-6864. Space is limited.

YAA's Response to Discovery of Movi in Alaskan Wild Sheep and Goats

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 04:42:00 PM

Yukon Agricultural Association has been working hard to ensure that Yukon farmers have current information about testing procedures of domestic flocks as well as containment specifications to prevent contact between wild and domestic sheep and goats. At a recent YAA workshop, sheep and goat farmers were very receptive to a proposed Government of Yukon Animal Health Act regulation that identifies Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi) as a reportable hazard, and sets out culling and compensation requirements. YAA takes the issue of disease management very seriously and is liaising with government agencies and wild sheep organizations to ensure that all stakeholders are part of a Yukon solution. For further information about the discovery of Movi in wild sheep in Alaska, please review the press release from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that can be found at the following webpage: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr&release=2018_03_13

Keeping Your Flocks Healthy

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 03:55:00 PM

On Saturday, February 24th, 2018 (8.30am to 4.30pm) at the Westmark Hotel, YAA is hosting a day-long workshop about the care and management of healthy sheep and goats. BC veterinarians Dr Glenna McGregor and Dr Helen Schwantje will be leading sessions on topics such as: nutrition basics, biosecurity, disease and parasite management, as well as wild and domestic sheep interactions. In addition, Yukon's Chief Veterinarian Dr Mary VanderKop will be reviewing Yukon government programs relating to sheep and goats. Doors open at 8.30am with the workshop starting at 8.45am. Lunch and refreshments will be served. Hand-outs will be provided. For those people who cannot make it to Whitehorse, you can watch the day's events on these two YouTube channels: Morning session link: https://youtu.be/73ygYZEXajw Afternoon session link: https://youtu.be/nuO-ou6AAc0 To register, please contact the YAA office at 867-668-6864 or email office@yukonag.ca.

Meet Your Maker

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 11:22:00 AM

A Winter Gathering of Small-Scale, Regional Food Businesses and Farmers Saturday, January 27th, 2018 2.30-4.30pm Best Western Gold Rush Inn RSVP to office@yukonag.caThis event mixer is designed for Yukon food producers and food buyers to connect and explore potential opportunities to work together. If you're a Yukon food business, we encourage you to attend. Everyone including restaurant chefs, caterers, grocers, food delivery companies, food processors, farmers, fishers, and ranchers can meet, negotiate, and create new deals at Meet Your Maker. * For more info about Meet Your Maker events, click on: http://www.farmfolkcityfolk.ca/events/meet-your-maker-3/In preparation for the event, now might be a good time to check that you have a good stash of business cards and to start practicing your elevator pitch. Call the office if you need help!

Yukon Sheep

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 05:08:00 PM

YAA has been reaching out to a large network of organizations in Yukon, BC and Alberta to gather information about the management of disease transmission (specifically pneumonia) from domestic goats and sheep to wild sheep. In short, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi), carried by some domestic sheep and goats, has been found to cause bighorn sheep die-offs in the northwestern US, southern BC and western Alberta. New scientific findings related to Movi have prompted an increase in information distribution about the identification of preventative actions to protect thinhorn sheep (a relative of bighorn sheep) that range in northern BC, Yukon, Alaska and southwestern NWT. How can Yukon sheep and goat farmers help this process? 1. Attend an animal health clinic: YAA will be helping to organize a sheep and goat information health clinic this summer. 2. Read up on the pathogen and the disease. YAA has an information sheet produced by the BC Ministry of Agriculture. It includes information about diagnostic testing. 3. Contact the Chief Veterinarian at 867-456-5582 to talk about suitable fencing options for your sheep and goat pastures to prevent nose-to-nose contact between domestic sheep/goats and wild sheep. For additional information and access to resources about sheep management, consider becoming a member of the BC Sheep Federation (info@bcsheepfed.com), the Alberta Lamb Producers (info@ablamb.ca) and the Canadian Sheep Federation (info@cansheep.ca). YAA has information about these organizations and what initiatives they have supported. We can also facilitate introductions to agrologists and domestic sheep specialists in BC and Alberta. We will continue to update this blog as we gather more information.

Wildlife Fencing

Thu, 25 May 2017 10:46:00 AM

Wildwise Yukon is a valuable resource if you are looking for ways to protect your property, field crops, livestock and animals from intrusions by wildlife. For information about wildlife fencing, visit http://wildwise.ca/tips-and-resources/#electric-fencing. Additional information about fencing and compensation options can be found on the Agriculture Branch website at: http://www.emr.gov.yk.ca/agriculture/wildlife_damage_prevention.html.

Yukon Farm Products Guide - ONLINE

Tue, 16 May 2017 12:53:33 PM

YAA continues to improve the online version of the Yukon Farm Products and Services Guide at www.yukonag.ca/guide. Recent updates to the guide include improved map functionality and accuracy, improved search categories, and updated farm profile design. To update your listing for 2017 or add your business to the Farm Guide, contact the YAA office.

YAA 2017 AGM - May 5th

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 03:57:26 PM

Yukon Agricultural Association's 2017 AGM is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 5th at the Yukon Transportation Museum, which is located next to the Whitehorse airport. The draft agenda and itinerary includes: 5:30pm Sandwiches and coffee 6:00pm Farm insurance info 6:30pm AGM 8:30pm Michael Gates presents "Dawson Trail Cattle Drives" 9pm Adjourn. See you there!

Yukon Farm Guide 2017 Update

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:00:00 AM

It's time to make the annual update to the Yukon Farm Products Guide! In 2016, YAA shifted focus from the printed version of the guide to an online version. Updates to the guide included improved map function and accuracy, improved search categories, and updated farm profile design. To update your listing for 2017 or add your business to the Farm Guide, contact the YAA office.